ἐλθὼν κ.τ.λ. The glad tidings of peace are the fruits of the Passion. So the ‘coming’ can only refer to the appearances after the Resurrection (so Bengel). The aorists (both ἐλθὼν and εὐηγγελίσατο) suggest a reference to a period now closed. It can hardly therefore refer primarily to the present work of the exalted Christ through the Spirit. εἰρήνη ὑμῖν was the Risen Lord’s greeting to His Apostles on the first Easter evening (John 20:19); and the commission to preach remission of sins in His Name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem, recorded by St Luke (Luke 24:47), exactly satisfies St Paul’s language here. It is worth notice that the same passage from Isaiah 57:19 is referred to by St Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:39). ἔρχομαι is used by our Lord of His own return from the grave (John 14:18 f.).

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Old Testament